Jin Hwan thought he was happy.
A small house, a gentle wife, and a daughter whose smile lit up his entire world. For him, that was all he needed.
But happiness, in this world, was fragile.
Rumors had begun to spread — whispers that Jin had awakened as something strange, something feared: a Shadow Hunter. Even he didn't understand what that meant. He had no time to explore it, no chance to embrace it.
Because the moment the rumor reached the wrong ears… a gang was sent to his home.
The Fire Dragons.
They didn't come for answers. They came to kill.
That morning, Jin was on his way to work. His phone rang.
He answered casually, not knowing that his life was about to shatter.
"Hello?" Jin's voice was calm.
But on the other end, he heard his daughter's trembling voice:
"Daddy… please, protect me and Mommy."
His blood froze.
"Sweetheart? What happened?!"
Suddenly, another voice took the phone — deep, mocking.
"Since you're not at home… they'll pay for you."
BANG! BANG!
Two deafening gunshots echoed through the speaker.
Jin's eyes widened. His hands clenched the steering wheel so hard it cracked beneath his grip. A fire burned inside him — black, violent, unnatural.
"You bastards… you'll pay for this."
He turned the car around, racing through the streets like a madman. When he finally burst into his home, the sight waiting for him crushed his soul.
His wife. His daughter.
Lifeless on the floor.
He fell to his knees, his voice breaking as he called their names. No response. No warmth. Only silence.
But then… his gaze shifted to the wall.
Written in crude, bloody strokes:
"DF."
The mark of the Fire Dragons.
Jin rose slowly, the pain twisting into rage. His hands trembled, shadows wrapping around his fingers like living flames — dark, black fire burning with his fury.
He no longer looked human.
"I'll hunt you down… every last one of you."
And so began his descent into the shadows.
The man known as Jin Hwan died that day — and something far darker was born.
End of Chapter 1. The hunt begins.